TOKYO, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- Japan announced it will stop exports of 24 categories of luxury goods to North Korea in retaliation for that country's Oct. 9 nuclear test.
The Kyodo news agency reported Tuesday that the decision by the Japanese Cabinet is in line with the U.N. Security Council's sanctions against North Korea.
The items removed from exports include high-quality beef, fatty tuna meat, caviar, tobacco, fur products, cars, motorcycles, jewelry, watches, audiovisual equipment and art objects, which are consumed by the North's power elite. These items had accounted for 16 percent of Japan's exports to North Korea last year.
Japanese Trade Minister Akira Amari said the decision also prohibits Japanese companies and individuals from conducting trading of such luxury goods through a third country. Violators will face prison terms of up to three years.
Amari said he believes the ban will have ''significant impact'' on North Korea's military and government leaders. He said Japan also will consult with the United States and other nations to make the sanctions more effective, the report said.
